Research Interests and Involvement

2009 AOU Presentation Abstract:
CHIMNEY LOCATION MATTERS: CHIMNEY SWIFT (CHAETURA PELAGICA) HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
AT MULTIPLE SPATIAL SCALES
Chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica) populations are steadily declining. Management efforts are hampered by the lack
of published data on chimney swift habitat associations. We know that chimneys in general constitute suitable
breeding sites, but few aspects of the preferred habitat surrounding the chimneys have been quantified. Artificial
nesting towers are an increasingly popular conservation approach, but are ultimately unlikely to succeed unless we
know where towers should be placed. We used a database of known nesting locations, and a Connecticut land cover
database, to investigate swift-chimney habitat associations at multiple spatial scales. We found that chimney swift nest
sites are positively associated with Developed land cover, and with Agricultural land cover, at all the spatial scales
(0.5 km, 3.5 km, and 6.5 km) examined. Conversely, swifts are negatively associated with Forested land cover. We
interpret these relationships as reflecting the need of chimney swifts for nesting sites (chimneys) near food (insect)-
generating grasslands. Our results suggest that conservation efforts should be focused in suburban areas, near
Agricultural land cover.